Norwich police welcome 3 new faces to the force

NORWICH — Three new officers have joined the ranks of the Norwich Police Department.

Two recruits, Guy Cherenfant, 29, of Putnam, and Robert McKinney, 28, of Norwich, were sworn in Friday. They will enter the Connecticut Police Academy on Jan. 3 and are expected to graduate in June.

After graduation, they will begin field training in Norwich.

“The reason they’re here today is they’re the best of the best,” Police Chief Louis Fusaro told the new recruits’ family and friends at the swearing-in ceremony. “We’re very, very confident that these two gentlemen will succeed.”

In addition, Officer Michael Lax, 27, of Gales Ferry, a three-year veteran of the New London police, was sworn in Thursday and began field training.

Cherenfant was born in Cap-Hatïen, Haiti, and lived there until age 16, when he moved to Chatham, Mass. Cherenfant graduated from Chatham High School in 2005 and received an associate degree in criminal justice at Quinsigamond Community College.

Cherenfant is fluent in French, French Creole and English.

He has a wife, Jodie, and two children, Ramaya, 7, and David, 2.

Cherenfant said he is happy to have the opportunity to help people. “To give peace to a kid at night, that’s what I want to do,” he said.

McKinney was born in New London and raised in Quaker Hill. He graduated from Waterford High School in 2003 and received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from UConn in 2008.

He was formerly an assistant general manager at Best Buy in Waterford.

“It’s always been something I was considering,” McKinney said about a career in law enforcement. “I want to make a difference.”

Lax is a graduate of the Connecticut Police Academy in Meriden. He graduated from Glastonbury High School in 2005 and from UConn with a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics.

Lax also is a staff sergeant in the Connecticut National Guard.

Sgt. James Veiga, who is in charge of recruiting at the Norwich department, said more officers are on the way.